Page 5 of Like You Know

“Never mind.” He waved it away and stuck his hand out farther.

I was so damn hungry I just chose the path of least resistance: I took his hand and shook it. It was warm, his grip firm but gentle. I left my hand in his a moment longer than necessary as a sudden urge to lean forward and hug him overwhelmed me. I wondered if his hugs were as comforting as his handshakes.

“There. We’re good. Now, I’m going to eat.” I shook myself out of it and walked away, avoiding eye contact. I got my sushi and an iced tea, so wrapped up in trying to figure out what the hell had come over me that I didn’t notice him following until I walked up to our table.

My friends were already there, joking, eating, a spare seat saved for me next to Donna. They threw curious glances over my shoulder, and only then did I realize Jet was still with me, holding a tray piled high with food. All kinds of food that didn’t go together. Pasta and fries next to a sandwich and stir-fry and sushi and a burrito bowl. No way in hell could he eat all that on his own.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked, not sure if I was referring to his disgusting lunch or the fact that he was still following me around.

“We’re friends now.” He shrugged. “I’m joining you for lunch.”

“No, we’re not, and no, you’re not.” I frowned as I took my seat. My friends had all gone silent, watching the exchange.

“Oh, come on.” He smiled and pulled over a spare chair. It made an obnoxious scraping sound as he wedged it between Nicola and Drew. “I’m new here. I don’t know anyone. Introduce me to your friends.”

I rolled my eyes. “Jethro, these are my friends. Friends, this is some asshole that’s decided to follow me around.”

I then promptly started eating my sushi, my other hand checking my phone as I ignored him.

He was ballsy, I had to give him that. People didn’t justinvite themselvesto our table. It wasn’t some pretentious rule or anything, but a lot of the other students were too intimidated to approach us. Jet was new though; he probably hadn’t figured that out yet, and my standoffish attitude hadn’t put him off. He was either that confident or stupid.

He didn’t strike me as stupid though ...

My friends were much more welcoming, apparently charmed by his easy attitude and dimpled smiles.

“Hey, bro!” Drew clapped him on the back. “I’m Drew. Welcome to Fulton Academy. And don’t worry about Amaya—the fact that she’s calling you an asshole is practically an endearment. She must like you.”

“I do not,” I stated calmly, keeping my eyes on my phone.

A few people around the table laughed, and everyone pretty much got back to their lunches and conversations. It didn’t take long for Nicola to start flirting with Jet while Donnie threw them glares from the other side of the table. Those two had been on again/off again since junior year. They were currently off again as of yesterday.

In record time, Nicola threw her hair over her shoulder and asked Jet out on a date. I nearly rolled my eyes. Everyone at that table knew damn well she’d be back with Donnie within the next week and she was using Jet to make him jealous.

“Someone should tell him,” Donna whispered in my ear, chuckling with amusement. “Poor guy.”

“Not it,” I rushed to say. “I have a feeling he can handle himself anyway. Plus, more fun for us this way.” I grinned at her, letting an edge of mischief enter my gaze, and we laughed.

“What are you two laughing about?” Mena leaned around Hendrix to ask.

“Tell you later,” Donna said and changed topics.

I glanced at Jet and Nicola, still flirting, heads bent together as they planned their date. I had a sudden urge to get to my feet and tell him it wasn’t going to go anywhere with Nic. I wanted to call everyone out on their bullshit almost daily. But I kept my mouth shut. It was more powerful to know things about people than to expose them.

He glanced at me, and our eyes connected across the table for a fraction of a second. And for that fraction of a second, I almost felt as if he knew what I was thinking. There was definitely intelligence in that gaze, an understanding that spoke to life experience. Jet had been through some shit. It was that same restrained look I saw every day in the mirror.

I picked my phone back up. I absorbed not a single word of the page I’d tried to read several times now, too distracted by the new guy who was still too much of a mystery for comfort. Instead, I texted Harlow.

A: New guy update. He’s pushy and annoyingly confident. Straight-up followed me to lunch today and just sat with us.

Her response was immediate.

H: The audacity!

A: I know right?! He’s currently in the process of planning a hot date with Nic.

H: Baahaha! Someone should tell him.

A: He’ll figure it out soon enough.

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